Tool for reshaping automobile panels



0a. 18, 1949. w. H. FERGUSON 2,485,487

TOOL FOR RESHAPING AUTOMOBILE PANELS Filed Sept. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheetl Iniueniof: WzJZZzkamHFe ziguso' m,

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FOR RESHA PING AUTOMOBILE PANELS Filed Sept. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inve 27/303": WzJZZz/tz mHFrgwso n,

Patented Oct. 18,1949

2,485,487 TOOL FOR RESHAPING AUTOMOBILE PANEL William H. Ferguson,Malden ,-Mass.,assignor to Everett, Mass., a corporation H. K. Porter,Inc., of Massachusetts Application September 7,

2 Claims. (01. 81---15) This invention relates to tools for reshapingthe panels of automobile bodies and removing dents therefrom moreparticularly by a series of localized pushing-out operations at closelyspaced points by means of which the metal of the displaced portion isgradually returned approximately to its original contour. The toolsherein disclosed and other tools devised by me for effecting suchoperations I term picking tools.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription of the illustrative embodiments thereof shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating broken away a portion of anautomobile door and the tool in use thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tool;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views, not to scale or in relativeproportions, illustrating successive stages of the picking processesperformed;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the tool;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view tool; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof.

In reshaping the panels of automobile bodies which have been injured incollisions the major deformations may be brought back to theirapproximate original position by use of pushing tools of suitable designconveniently powered by a hydraulic jack. Other dents, if easilyaccessible from both sides, may be hammered into their proper contour byuse of a hammer and suitable dolly blocks. In modern automobile practicemany parts are not so accessible because covered over by the interiorconstruction through which avenues of access are most restricted.Frequently relatively small dents occur along margins of the panels towhich access is most not of functional importance, such dents are oftenparticularly unsightly, detracting from appearance and from the resalevalue of the car.

I have found that by the use of suitable tools, of which that disclosedin the present application is an example, such dents may be quickly andsatisfactorily reformed by a series of prying actions on the interior orconvex surface of the dent performed at closely spaced points by meansof of such second form of a rigid, pointed tool formed to permit accessfrom point either through an exa relatively remote isting availableopening or through an opening of restricted size formed for the purposeand which may thereafter be closed. As distinguished from the stretchedmetal into show on the exterior minor excrescences or pressing actionseffected by means of contoured spoons, the successive pressures areconcentrated 194.5, Serial No. 615,021

substantially at' single points of the work. While much of thereshaping, as directed by the skill of the operator, will be pressingback of the panel to its original contour, in general smaller reversedbends in the nature of small hollow domes will be formed representing agathering of I smaller rugosities or sinuosities to permit it to lie ingeneral along its original contour of smaller area. Characteristicallythe panel when so roughly reformed will pimples at the points wherepressure was applied at the interior, which should not be so high thattheir interior hollows extend outwardly past the contour line of thepanel. These may be dressed off by filing or grinding to provide asmoothly contoured outer surface which may be refinished. The repair insome instances may be effected by repeated application of these steps.

Thus, referring to the diagrams Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in Fig. 3 I show,without pretense to dimensional verisimilitude, a contoured panel p inwhich there is an inward dent d. Fig. 4. shows the dent brought backapproximately to the original contour by prying operations on the sidewhich is lower in the figure, the work leaving the rebent partinterrupted by smaller reverse bendings 6, wherein the metal has beenstrained in the opposite direction and in part pressed up in such manneras to show small excrescences at the exterior. We may consider that apart of the excess area of metal as seen in Fig. 3 has beenredistributed in a series of smaller sinuosities approximating theshorter simple curvature of the original contour. Fig. 5 shows the outersurfaces of these excrescences e dressed off to the original contour,the hollows 71, formed thereby at the underside of the figure, whichrepresents the interior surface of the panel which is out of sight,being still present.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the tool there shown is of a size to be wieldedin one hand, as will appear, but is of a section which providessubstantial rigidity under manually exerted strains in use. Thus thedrawings illustrate an actual tool which was forged from a steel rod ofhexagon cross section measuring of an inch across. The tool includes astraight proximal portion l0 providing a hand grip and which may be ofhexagonal form as shown for better grip thereon, an intermediate portionwhich is cranked at l2 and recranked in illustrated and terminatesdistally in an angularly directed pointed tip I6. shown the tool astapered toward the distal end from a point about the beginning of thecurve where the portion I2 merges into the portion I4. This makes thetool somewhat more wieldy and facilitates the introduction of the endthereof into tight places. At the same time the proportioning of theparts is such that the resistance to flexure on account of the forceexerted at the tip I6 is substantially the same for diflerent fulcrumpoints along the length of the portion I 4. The shorter lever armcompensates for the smaller section.

I have referred to the portion I6 as a point. It will be understood thatit is not needle sharp but is to be distinguished from the broad face orpeen of ordinary hammers or from chiselshaped edges, being taperedsubstantially conically and having a generally rounded off apex asillustrated.

To facilitate control of the tool and to indicate to the workman theposition of the end I6, which in use will ordinarily be hidden from himby intervening portions of the interior structure of the automobile, theinner portion of the grip It] on the side thereof which has the sameangular relation to its axis as does the point l6 may be formed with arecess I8, the wall of which inclines inwardly of the grip and outwardlyfrom the butt end of the tool to provide a shallow, rearwardly facingshoulder 20, the construction as a whole forming a seat for the ball ofthe thumb when the grip is grasped by the fingers of the hand. Fig. 1illustrates a characteristic although simple application of the tool inwhich we may suppose that there is a dent in the outer panel of a doornear the bottom thereof at the point a. The interior surface of thispanel is not readily accessible because it is distant from the openingin the inner panel and close to that panel, as seen in Fig. 1. The toolmay be inserted through the opening referred to, finding a fulcrum atsome suitable point on the interior panel. The fulcrum point for varioustypes of work may, of course, occur at various points along the portionI 4 of the tool. When the grip portion Ii] of the tool is pulledupwardly, viewing Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrow in the figure,swinging the. tool in its plane about the fulcrum J, the point will beforced up to operate on the dent in the manner explained in connectionwith Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In the example shown in Fig. l, the operatorwould naturally stand at the exterior of the door opposite the loweredge, looking downwardly on the panel to permit him to observe theprogress of the work, grasping the grip I ll of the tool with his righthand, his thumb resting on the seat I 8. The distal part of the tool andits point It are hidden from him but the position of the latter isindicated by the thumb seat and a control of the presentation of thepoint of the work is facilitated by the grasp of the thumb thereon.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 I have illustrated a similar but modified form oftool having a hand grip Hill and cranked and recranked portions I20 andM8 similar to the portions I0, I2 and I4 of the tool shown in Fig. 2.The distal end I60 of the part Hill of the tool is bent at right anglesto the plane of the rest of the tool, as best seen in Fig. '7, andterminates in a point, similar to the point of part I6 in themodification of Fig. 2. Thethumb rest I80 in this instance is positionedat the side of the grip I00, but as before has the Herein I have sameangular Orientation as the point of the tool at I60. In use of thistool, as shown in Fig. 6, to operate on a dent at the point a theportion I40 finds its fulcrum at a point 7", but the tool is not swungin the plane of the crank portion but turned on this fulcrumsubstantially about the axis of the portion I40. That is, there is asort of rolling action of that part of the tool which forces thepoint-I60 upwardly with a prying action against the inner surface of thepanel.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in severalmatters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to theappended claims to indicate those principles of the inventionexemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire tosecure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A one-hand tool for picking up dents in sheet metal panels byrepeated prying actions thereon at closely spaced points andsubstantially rigidunder manually applied stress comprising a metal rodhaving a straight proximal portion providing a hand grip, anintermediate portion cranked and recranked to provide a throat spacedsubstantially rearwardly from the grasping hand for embracing anobstruction between the operator and the work, said recranked portionextended distally beyond the line of the grip, having a smooth andtapered cross sectional form, and terminating in a relatively short,angularly directed tip, having a substantially conical blunt point, therecranked portion and its extension providing a lever of substantiallength adapted to find a fulcrum support along said length for theforceful operation of the point by manipulation of the hand grip.

undermanually applied stress comprising a metal rod having a straightproximal portion providing a hand grip, an intermediate portion crankedand recranked to provide a throat spaced substantially rearwardly fromthe grasping hand for embracing an obstruction between the operator andthe work, said recranked portion extended distally beyond the line ofthe grip, having a smooth and tapered cross sectional form, andterminating in a relatively short tip having a substantially conicalblunt point extending at an angle to the plane of the throat, therecranked portion and its extension providing a lever of substantiallength adapted to find a fulcrum support along said length for theforceful operation of the point by manipulation of the hand grip.

WILLIAM H. FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Oct. 18, 1932

